Your inner adventurer wants to go diving at a massive coral reef on your next holiday, but your outer selfie aficionado is having second thoughts.
How can you become Instagram-famous with a pesky diving mask covering your pouty lips? You need to be where the fancy people are. Welcome to your Playa del Carmen holiday. The Mexican city is at the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, and it’s basically the cool kids’ lunch table of Quintana Roo. Between the chic vibe, on-trend shops and five-star restaurants, taking the perfect #nofilter shot is a breeze. When it’s time to rest your texting fingers, hang out on the ombre-coloured coastline, where champagne-coloured sand gives way to turquoise tide and a deep blue sea.
Slather yourself in sunscreen and channel your inner Baywatch lifeguard—it’s time to hit the coast in Playa del Carmen (slow motion running optional). The coastline is filled with equal parts sand and cosmopolitan travellers, the perfect recipe for a holiday worth live-tweeting.
When you’re not relaxing on a ribbon of sand, you can snorkel and scuba dive along the world’s second-largest coral reef. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles, manatees and stony coral. Fair warning: if you say “Here, fishy, fishy” around these parts, more than 500 species of finned creatures may answer the call. Don’t leave without swimming in a cave cenote these naturally-formed swimming holes are where Mayans once communicated with the gods. You can play Marco Polo with your friends.
Back on dry land, your holiday in Playa del Carmen gives you tons of reasons to go zip-lining, explore the Xcaret Eco Theme Park and visit endangered spider monkeys at the Jungle Place. A visit to Chichen Itza, officially one of the seven wonders of the modern world and a famous architectural ruin, is just a day trip away. Put your name on one of lastminute.com.au’s Playa Del Carmen car hire deals or let a tour bus deliver you to the site.
Quinta Avenida is the place to be when you decide to part with a few of your pesos. Shop street stalls, boutiques and other stores in between stopping for cerveza. The city also has two shopping malls, where you can uncover Victoria’s Secret or check out the Zara clearance racks like you’re back at home.
The food in Playa is so good you might want to cry (please don’t, you’ll only embarrass yourself). Restaurants here are serving up everything from homestyle Asian cuisine to thin-crust pizzas spilling over with fresh basil and the meltiest of cheeses. Oh, and you can also nosh on some tasty Mexican grub in venues including a jungle setting and cavern (watch out for the stalagmites).
Return to Quinta Avenida (La Quinta if you want to fit in) when the sun sets. Rock, reggae and lively salsa sounds fill the streets and beckon you to grab a drink. The city’s beach clubs keep the party going until dawn. You’ll be glad you saved some cash by booking one of our lastminute.com.au Playa Del Carmen packages when you realize how many more cervezas you can afford.
Start browsing lastminute.com.au Playa Del Carmen holiday packages today and you can throw out your at-home bronzer in no time. When you save big by booking flights and accommodation together, holidays to Playa Del Carmen are muy divertido!
Reviewed on 17 Apr. 2024
Reviewed on 18 Apr. 2024
Reviewed on 18 Apr. 2024
Have a fun-filled day at Xcaret Eco Theme Park and find out why people love this theme park in Xcaret. Stroll along the beautiful beaches in this romantic area or seek out the diving spots.
Nothing says holiday like spending a lazy day at Maroma Beach, a popular beach in Playa del Carmen. Discover the lively bars and entertainment choices in this relaxing area.
If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Playa del Carmen Main Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Playa del Carmen. Stroll along the seaside or experience the area's festivals.
^Savings based on all package bookings made with Flight + Hotel on lastminute.com.au from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.